Archive for November, 2011

Last year we were invited to take part in something pretty cool. I guess we did a good job because we’ve been asked to take part in it again this year. It’s the Thirst Relief Mentor Auction.

Thirst Relief is an organization that raises money and awareness to help provide clean drinking water to those that need it. The thought of not having access to clean water is something that a lot of us cannot even fully wrap our minds around. Right now as I type this I have a bottle of ice water on my table within an arm’s length. I also could get up and within 10 seconds of walking reach any of 7 sources of clean water around my house. And for all of that, I am extremely lucky. So many people around the world do not have the luxury of such access and drinking contaminated water is a huge problem.

So Thirst Relief came up with the idea to ask a bunch of photographers each year to donate 90 minutes of their time to a big auction to raise money. You can bid on any of the photographers to win their mentoring session and a bunch of other goodies. It’s a pretty sweet deal. You get to pick the brains of someone you like and you get to help provide clean water to those in need.

So how do you do this? It’s easy but you’ve gotta be quick! The auction is live now but will end tomorrow at 11pm. Here is the link to all of the auctions available: click HERE! And if you are interested in bidding on us specifically, here is the link to our page: CLICKITY CLICK!

So what are we offering? Since I’m due (with a baby, in case you missed the memo) in February right around the time of WPPI (when most mentor sessions generally take place) we are offering something a little different this year. Instead of an in-person session in Vegas, we are offering our session over Skype or locally in Orlando.

Amanda & Adam at Bella Collina

The session will be catered toward your needs both as an artist and for the place you are at with your business and will be determined before your session with us. Some topics that we like to talk with people about are… building relationships, utilizing social media, understanding branding, cohesive portfolio building, getting organic emotions from your subjects, working as a team, working with your spouse, making the jump to full time, getting your work published, blogging, etc.

- 1 hour Mentoring Consultation over Skype or in person in Orlando with Becka & Nate
– 30 minute follow up session a month later to check in (we don’t want to leave you hanging!)
– A bag of our favorite things (you’ll just have to be surprised!)

We would be honored if you would bid on us. As many of you know we are planning on releasing information on new mentoring/consulting services we will be offering in 2012 but we won’t be releasing it till later this year so if you want to grab some time with us now for a steal of a deal and help out an amazing organization, head on over and BID BID BID. :)

Canon F1 35mm | Kodak Portra 400

I handed over my camera and asked Nate to snap this photo of me while we were up in the mountains last week on a mini vacation with his side of the family. I LOVE it. I kind of want to blow it up and hang it on the wall but I feel like that might be narcissistic. It was autumn in the mountains and I’m in the autumn of my pregnancy. We just started the third and last trimester meaning that it’s pretty much all downhill from now till the end of January.

I shot only film on our trip and this little 35mm camera from the 70′s has quickly become one of my favorites that I own. It’s got an amazing range and the colors are beautiful. This image has no editing done to it at all except to resize it to fit here on the blog.

xo, B

Love these two. They got engaged on the beach in St. Augustine earlier this year and are getting married in St. Augustine later this year. They’re witty, and funny, and don’t take themselves too seriously, and they like beer and cider and having a good time with friends. We killed a few hours after their session chatting around a table in one of our favorite pubs downtown and it seemed like minutes. They are why we love our job. More to come.

xo, B